2012-13 Milwaukee Bucks Preview

This team has talent, especially in the backcourt, but the ceiling isn't very
high. If Milwaukee can get into the playoffs, the highest-seed possible is
probably a No. 7.

If they don't make the playoffs, another trip to the lottery, where they've
been the last two seasons, is on tap. Problem is, the Bucks aren't ever going
to get a high pick unless they get remarkably lucky in the lottery.

So, the Bucks are probably better off going for broke this season.

"We want to be up in the top 10 - maybe even the top five - as a defensive
team," said head coach Scott Skiles. "If you're a 55-game winning team and
have home court every year and you're knocking on the door and your goal is to
win the title, I think that's realistic.

"But we want to be in a position where we can be one of those teams that's in
a position to say that going into a season. In order to do that, we have to
get better defensively, and there's no reason we can't do that."

The strength is clearly in the backcourt.

Brandon Jennings had his best season as a pro last season. The left-hander
averaged 19.1 points per game and 5.5 assists per game.

Monta Ellis showed up in March, and, in 21 games, averaged 17.6 PPG. That was
a low figure based on Ellis' previous four seasons.

But with a full training camp together, this backcourt could average over 40
PPG.

"I played a fairly wide-open offensive game myself, so I like to give guys a
lot of freedom offensively and let them use their talents and express
themselves," said Skiles. "We want to execute late in games and put a priority
on that, but I don't want guys feeling encumbered by too many offensive
demands."

The offense certainly came around last season. After finishing dead last in
the NBA in scoring in 2010-11, the Bucks came in fifth last season.

If this backcourt wasn't terrifying enough, consider that both Jennings and
Ellis are in the final years of their contracts. It's doubtful both would be
back next season and if things go poorly, one will most definitely be traded
at the deadline.

FRONTCOURT: This will be the first season without center Andrew Bogut. He went
to the Golden State Warriors in the Ellis trade and Dalembert is a decent
substitute. Dalembert is a good shot-blocker and decent rebounder, but he goes
through lapses where it looks like he still doesn't understand all of the
rules of the game.

Mbah a Moute is a spectacular defensive player. Offensively, he is limited at
best.

Ilyasova had a career season in 2011-12. He averaged 13 PPG, 8.8 RPG and shot
an eye-opening 45 percent from 3. Ilyasova had a 26-rebound game last season
and can be a ferocious player on the floor. The question is, was last season a
fluke or Ilyasova starting to reach his potential? Either way, Ilyasova is in
a new tax bracket after a five-year, $40 million contract in the offseason.

BACKCOURT: Explosive. Dynamic. Offensively-enhanced.

There are a lot of adjectives one could use to describe Jennings and Ellis.

Of course they score at will and may represent the fastest starting backcourt
in the league. Both are in contract years and both will be looking to get paid
this summer.

But, if Jennings and Ellis are going to succeed in their time in Milwaukee,
they'll need to step it up on the defensive end and that is not either
player's strength.

"When it comes on the defensive end, the only thing we have to do is hold our
man to four or five dribbles, and if they go to the basket, we've got the big
guys back there to wipe them out," Ellis said. "The only thing we can't do is
open the door for them to go to the basket and get our big men in foul
trouble. Our focus on defense has to be to keep our big men out of foul
trouble."

Udoh, Sanders and Harris are young and contributed in their ways to NBA teams
already in their brief careers.

Henson and Lamb came via the draft and both could be steals.

Henson is thin and might have trouble handling strong power forwards. But
Henson could also become a great weak-side shot-blocker and he needs to work
on his offensive game.

Lamb will definitely be a steal. He was chosen in the second round and was an
expert 3-point shooter in two seasons at Kentucky. Lamb has some handle and
should figure into the rotation already, backing up Ellis, who has perennially
been in the top 10 in minutes played.

COACHING: Skiles is known as a defensive coach and the defense struggled last
season. The additions of Dalembert, Przybilla and Daniels will help on that
front and scoring went up last season. He has a deep roster and can mix and
match for defense and offense.

Skiles' contract expires at the end of the season. He's amassed a 146-166 in
four seasons with the Bucks, so this is a huge season for Skiles. He's well-
respected and if he lets Jennings and Ellis do their thing and doesn't micro-
manage, this group should be strong.

OUTLOOK: The Bucks are once again in limbo. The talent is there to make the
playoffs, but the East has improved, especially with the Brooklyn Nets and
Philadelphia 76ers. Those were two fringe playoff teams in recent history and
both look entrenched in the postseason at this point.

A quick start will be critical for the Bucks. If things turn sour, Jennings,
Ellis and Skiles, all lame ducks, could be gone. If things go well, could be
extensions for everyone.

It just seems the defense won't come around enough for the Bucks to make the
playoffs. Dalembert is a guy who I wouldn't put a lot of faith in to anchor my
team's hopes, but, to be fair, he's a good shot-blocker and goal-tender.

With all of this talent, have these players ever won anything in the NBA? They
haven't. Certainly not calling them losers, but history is a real thing.

The hunch is the Bucks are outside looking in again and this team looks very
different next season.